Fire danger on rise, with new restrictions

The public fire danger went to “high” on Monday and the industrial regulated use will be at Level 2 at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

“Fire risk is going to increase,” said Chad Calderwood, fire protection supervisor for Oregon Department of Forestry’s Sweet Home unit, on Monday evening. “We’re looking at conditions drying out even more.”

He said fire protection officials are concerned about the speed at which the fire season is progressing, and a call about a column of smoke in the area of High Deck Road and Highway 20 Monday afternoon, July 9, prompte...